Photos: Sally Ride, first woman astronaut

REUTERS/NASA/Handout07.23.2012

Astronaut Sally Ride, mission specialist on STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the Flight Deck of the Space Shuttle Challenger in this NASA handout photo dated June 25, 1983. Floating in front of her is a flight procedures notebook. Ride died July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

REUTERS/NASA/Handout

This undated photo released by NASA shows astronaut Sally Ride. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/NASA

This undated file photo released by NASA shows astronaut Sally Ride. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/NASA

Photo dated January 1983 shows US Space Shuttle Challenger STS-7 mission crew: Commander Robert Crippen (C, first row), pilot Frederick Hauck (R), Sally Ride (L), John Fabian and Norman Thagard, mission specialists. Ride, the first US woman to fly in space, died on July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, her foundation announced. She was 61. Ride first launched into space in 1983, on the seventh US space shuttle mission.AFP PHOTO/NASA

In this Aug. 29, 1983 file photo, astronaut Sally Ride poses at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Caneveral, Fla. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/Brian Russell

In this June 1983 photo released by NASA, astronaut Sally Ride, a specialist on shuttle mission STS-7, monitors control panels from the pilot's chair on the shuttle Columbia flight deck. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/NASA

It was reported that astronaut Sally Ride, who was the first American woman in space, died of cancer at the age of 61 on July 23, 2012. SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Dr. Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman to travel into space, speaks to the media at the San Diego Aerospace Museum February 7, 2003 in San Diego, California. Ride gave her condolences to the families of the lost space shuttle Columbia astronauts as well as spoke about the future of the space program. Ride also mentioned a science festival that she sponsors for fifth and eight grade girls known as the Sally Ride Science Club. The next club festival is scheduled for February 22, 2003 in San Diego, California.Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

In this June 1983 file photo provided by NASA, astronaut Sally K. Ride, STS-7 mission specialist, communicates with ground controllers from the mid-deck of the earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/NASA

It was reported that astronaut Sally Ride, who was the first American woman in space, died of cancer at the age of 61 on July 23, 2012. SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 7: Dr. Sally Ride, the first U.S. woman to travel into space, speaks to the media at the San Diego Aerospace Museum February 7, 2003 in San Diego, California. Ride gave her condolences to the families of the lost space shuttle Columbia astronauts as well as spoke about the future of the space program. Ride also mentioned a science festival that she sponsors for fifth and eight grade girls known as the Sally Ride Science Club. The next club festival is scheduled for February 22, 2003 in San Diego, California.Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, is pictured following an event on science, technology, engineering and math education initiatives by the Obama administration at the White House in Washington, in this November 23, 2009 file photo. Ride died July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer.REUTERS/Jason Reed

In this Oct. 7, 2009 file photo, former Astronaut Sally Ride speaks to members of the media as NASA personnel set-up astronomy equipment on the South Lawn of the White House in preparation for an event with the President and the First Lady, in Washington. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

In this July 28, 2009 file photo, former astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, with Jeffrey Greason in the background, comments during a public meeting of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, in League City, Texas. Ride, the first American woman in space, died Monday, July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 61.AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Brett Coomer

Photo dated January 1983 shows NASA astronaut Sally Ride at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Ride, the first US woman to fly in space, died on July 23, 2012 after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, her foundation announced. She was 61. Ride first launched into space in 1983, on the seventh US space shuttle mission.AFP PHOTO/NASA

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